Game 7: at Boston Celtics (Jan. 13)
The Celtics are starting to slow their roll a bit after the turn of the calendar year. One of their only two wins during this month so far came over the Chicago Bulls. Boston has gone from second place in the East, all the way down to fifth, with the Pacers and Philadelphia 76ers starting to heat up a bit.
A cold Celtics team does manage to get going enough to get up big against the Bulls by halftime. This is a real coming out party for small forward Jaylen Brown, as he continues to enjoy a solid breakout season. A big night from second-year center Wendell Carter Jr. doesn’t prevent head coach Brad Stevens and the Celtics from getting their second win of the month over the Bulls.
Score Prediction: Celtics 107, Bulls 100 (Record 16-25)
Game: Washington Wizards (Jan. 15)
The severing of the Bulls three-game winning streak at least brings a winnable game against the Washington Wizards with it. There’s a good chance that the Bulls can get hot early against star shooting guard Bradley Beal and the Wizards. Sharpshooting big man Davis Bertans also presents problems for the Bulls on Jan. 15.
The last time these two teams met saw the Bulls come out with a miraculous overtime win at the Verizon Center in the nation’s capitol. LaVine got the Bulls the win the last time that these two teams met, and he and Beal put on a show once again. LaVine and Beal combine for 66 points, as this one comes right down to the wire.